Jackie Chan stars as the young warrior Hsu Yiu Fong. Hsu is suspected of killing all of the Shaolin Masters in the Hua mountains and stealing the book of records, which contains instructions for the unbeatable technique of the "art of Snake and Crane". Hsu claims his innocence but is nevertheless pursued by various clans, with Chian-Tse, the notorious leader of the Black Dragon Clan, as the most powerful one. Chian-Tse will use the new technique to gain power over the region.